The best alternatives to jeans

one of the best things about living in a big city like London is the people watching. About a year ago, I was sitting on the Tube and I noticed that every single man around me was wearing jeans. There were many different types up and down the carriage of course - from skinny black ones ripped at the knees to smart indigo ones with a turn-up to ill-fitting pairs of bootcuts pooling around square-toed shoes - but denim was most definitely dominant.

This brief moment in time wasn't something I thought about again until last week. I was sitting on the same Tube line taking the same journey and noticed that the cross section of men sharing the carriage had done a complete 360: there wasn't a single pair of jeans on the legs in there - and, having chosen to pull on a pair of cotton drill pleated Valentino slacks myself that morning, this also included myself. From what I've seen on the catwalks, on the street style blogs and on the Bakerloo line, it appears men are craving more diversity in their downtime wardrobe right now - and jeans, certainly for this moment in menswear, are being neatly folded away in favour of something else. Jeans aren't necessarily dead (and we're not suggesting you go on an immediate denim purge), but they're certainly in hibernation for the forseeable future. But how did this happen?

My theory is that jeans have become a victim of their own success. Over the past few years, jeans have fought their way from being considered purely downtime gear to being acceptable for almost every situation a man can find himself in. Because of that, I would imagine this has lead to many men's wardrobes being predominantly jeans-orientated. As the fashion cycle moves on, in response both designers and street style superheroes have begun to promote on plenty of alternatives to jeans which are just as versatile.

So if you're a man that's become dependant on denim, there's been no better time to try something new. The key this season is to remember the three "Cs": cargo, corduroy and cropped. Try one, try three, try all three in one - whatever you go for, they'll see you right for many months to come.

And the great news is, if you're getting serious denim withdrawal, you can wear all of them with a jean jacket. Crisis averted.

Cargo trousers

As the big Nineties menswear revival begins to segue into the soon-to-be-seen Noughties revival (you heard it here first), we're going to see lots of items from the turn of the New Millennium return to our wardrobes. Perhaps the most notable of these to stage a comeback on the catwalks is cargo trousers. However, unlike the baggy iterations from almost two decades ago, this new generation are far more suave, with relaxed-yet-tailored cuts that flatter and elongate your legs - and provide you plenty of pockets for on the go storage.

Corduroy trousers

Denim hasn't just become popular for how it looks, but also for its everyday hardiness - and few materials come close to that like corduroy. Tough, yet still soft and supple, corduroy is a smart alternative that'll bring texture to your outfit. The best styles we're seeing around right now are looser fits (straight through the hips and calves without a taper, and sometimes with a turn-up) and often in lighter, more summery shades (sand, white, beige). Look out for thick elephant cord (and even added embroidery, such as these from Gucci at Browns) to truly knock this trend out of the park.

Cropped trousers

It's not just about the material, it's also about the fit this season. If you are going to break your reliance on denim, why not do it with a pair of trousers that are totally different to your go-to jeans. Cropped trousers with a pleat are not only an instant way to update your armoury, but we'll also guarantee they'll become one of your favourite items in there. If you've previously prayed at the alter of skinny jeans, the breathing space afforded to your thighs thanks to a tapered cut will mean these are the most comfortable pair of trousers you'll own. Plus that extra couple of inches above the ankle will give you even more show room for those big, bold season-friendly sneakers.

Pleated trousers

Personally speaking I find trousers with a single pleat much more flattering than those without. The reason is primarily because I have slightly wider hips than I would like, and the extra room created by said pleat allows for the illusion of being much more svelte underneath them. The extra fabric around the thigh also creates a more attractive tapered drop to the base of the leg of each trouser. Almost carrot fit, only better - this is good if you play a lot of sport as your thighs will probably be on the wider side. You can find really great trousers such as these at Weekday, the new, younger outlet from the H&M group, which have a slightly looser profile. For smarter styles look to Paul Smith - which are invariably classically cut and slim - or Gucci, where said trousers come in surprising fabrics such as camel flannel or grey windowpane check. Another mid-level brand also worth a look is Universal Works. The British label does a wonderful line in worker trousers finished with cuffs and pleats - more casual than they are smart, they’re perfect for weekend wear with boots. Similar styles can be found at Oliver Spencer too. Failing all that you could just fake it and roll up the cuffs of your favourite trousers - thought the effect won’t be quite the same.